Hi Luciano --
The expanded-channels scenario would use one TICC/Arduino pair for each
set of channels. It would require much redesign to stack multiple TICCs
on a single Arduino, and I don't think one board would have the power to
handle it.
What I envisioned would be a set of TICC/Arduinos each putting their
data on USB, and then something like a RPi receiving the multiple USB
data streams and serving as a control unit that might multiplex the data
onto a single ethernet stream, or do processing/storage itself.
At this point, the TICC board includes the connections to allow multiple
boards to be synchronized but we haven't implemented the full system yet
-- in part because until now there are only 4 working TICCs in the
world, and they are in 3 locations!
John
----
On 12/8/2016 8:09 AM, timeok wrote:
>> Hi John,
> a question: In the draft operating manual is write is possible to use 2, 4 ,6 etc. input using multiple (1,2,3) TICC.
> How are connected the extra TICC boards?
> Is it possible a single Arduino drive multiple boards or each board is connected to an Arduino processor?
> thanks,
> Luciano
> www.timeok.it
>>> From "time-nuts" time-nuts-bounces at febo.com> To "Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement" time-nuts at febo.com> Cc
> Date Wed, 7 Dec 2016 14:45:17 -0500
> Subject [time-nuts] TICC Timestamping / Time Interval Counter -- Available to Order
> I'm happy to report that TAPR is now accepting orders for the TICC
> timestamping / time interval counter. We've placed an order with the
> contract manufacturer and expect to have finished product ready to ship
> sometime in February. The TICC system will include the TICC shield
> mounted on an Arduino Mega 2560 compatible processor, with TICC software
> loaded. Each system will be tested for function before shipping.
>> As I mentioned in my original email, TAPR is going a bit out on a limb
> to produce the TICC, and we have to make a significant up-front payment
> to our contract manufacturer. So, early orders are very much appreciated
> to help recover our cash flow.
>> The regular price will be $190 each for the TICC shield with Arduino
> compatible processor,* but to encourage early orders, we're offering a
> $10 discount for orders placed on or before December 21 -- that makes
> the price $180 plus shipping.
>> You can order from: http://tapr.org/kits_ticc.html>> Thanks!
> John
>> * We will provide a Sainsmart version of the Arduino Mega 2560 R3. They
> seem to be a reliable supplier and we used these boards for TICC
> development.
>>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject: [time-nuts] New Timestamping / Time Interval Counter: the TICC
> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2016 10:48:57 -0500
> From: John Ackermann N8UR <jra at febo.com>
>> Counters with resolution below 1 nanosecond are difficult.
> They require either outrageous clock speeds, or interpolators
> that are typically a bunch of analog components mixed with black
> magic and stirred by frequent calibration. The very best single-shot
> resolution that's been commercially available is 20 picoseconds in
> the Keysight 53230A and HP 5370A/B. My 5370B has an one-second
> noise ADEV of about 4x10e-11.
>> With the help of some very talented friends, I've been working on a new
> counter called the "TICC" with <60ps resolution and similar jitter,
> based the Texas Instruments TDC7200 time-to-data-converter chip. The
> noise ADEV is about 7x10e-11, not much worse than the 5370,
> but here's the trick: the TICC is an Arduino shield (mounting a
> Mega 2560 controller) that weighs a couple of ounces, requires
> *no* calibration, and is powered from a USB cable!
>> The TICC is implemented as a two-channel timestamping counter. That
> means it can measure or two low-frequency (e.g., pulse-per-second)
> inputs against an external 10 MHz reference, or it can do a traditional
> time interval measurement of input against the other. It can also
> measure period, ratio, or any other function of two-channel timestamp
> data. (And by the way -- multiple TICCs can be connected to yield 4,
> 6, 8, or more synchronized channels, though we haven't tested this
> capability yet.)
>> I've attached a picture of the TICC prototype as well as an ADEV plot
> of a 17+ day run of multiple measurements taken by two TICCs, and also
> showing the TICC noise floor. The good news behind that plot is that
> there are more than 6 million data points behind these results, and
> there was not a single glitch or significant outlier among them.
>> There's more information available at http://febo.com/pages/TICC>> The software is open source (BSD license) and is available at
>https://github.com/TAPR/TICC -- the current version seems be reliable
> but there are still features to add and a *lot* of cleanup to do; it's
> currently ugly and very much a work in process.
>> As always, I'll be making the TICC available through TAPR. We're still
> finalizing details, but we expect the price to be less than $200 for a
> turn-key system: TICC mounted an Arduino with software loaded and
> tested for basic functionality. We hope to ship the TICC by February.
>> I'll post a note in a week or two with final price and ordering
> information. As a heads up, we will probably offer a small discoun
> for pre-orders. TAPR is a shoestring non-profit group and the up-front
> cost to manufacture this unit will frankly be a challenge for us.
> Getting pre-orders will help our cash flow significantly, so we ask you
> to keep that in mind.
>> John
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